Starbucks presents The House of Coffee, a new cultural platform debuting in Milan that opens an unprecedented dialogue between creativity, lifestyle and community.
Curated by Sarah Andelman, founder of Just An Idea and globally renowned for her visionary work at colette, the project celebrates Starbucks’ deep connection with the city and transforms the Starbucks Reserve Roastery into a vibrant and evolving stage for contemporary cultural expression.
“Milan has always been a source of inspiration for Starbucks – shaping our vision of what a truly elevated coffeehouse experience could be. With The House of Coffee, we’re honouring that connection by bringing a new level of craft, creativity and personal expression to our Milan Roastery,” says Esther Van Onselen, VP Brand & Customer Experience for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “This is our most immersive home in Europe, and the perfect setting to introduce collaborations that reflect the premium experience our customers expect from Starbucks.”
The launch of the project will coincide with Milan Men’s Fashion Week January 2026 when Starbucks will unveil three special collaborations born from the creative synergy between Sarah Andelman and Italian artist Lucas Zanotto, known for his playful and instantly recognizable visual language.
“It’s an honour to collaborate with the Starbucks team on this project. The Milan Reserve Roastery, housed in the former Post Office, is a true landmark for the city,” says Sarah Andelman. “Bringing Lucas Zanotto’s iconic characters to life and working alongside such talented designers—both on the brands’ collaborations and on the reimagined aprons—has been incredibly uplifting. I hope visitors will feel inspired as they enjoy a great cup of coffee.”
“This project really brings together so many things I love: art, design, coffee, and collaboration. Working with Starbucks and with Sarah Andelman in Milan has been incredibly exciting, and creating an immersive experience there feels especially personal and joyful to me as an Italian,” comments Lucas Zanotto.
The limited-edition creations include a K-Way waterproof jacket, a pair of Nordica skis, and a dog puffer jacket accompanied by a travel bowl developed with Poldo Dog Couture — each reinterpreting Starbucks’ identity through a blend of design and functionality and featuring Zanotto’s graphic artwork expressed through Starbucks’ iconic green and white color palette.
“It’s an honor for Nordica to be involved in an international, creative, and fun project, where the energy of the slopes meets that of the city. It’s a synergy that unites two worlds far apart yet incredibly similar in their adrenaline-fueled vibe. Starbucks welcomes us into a truly unique space like the House of Coffee, and in return, we will bring its energy to the ski community,”states Alberto Amendolara, Nordica Brand Manager
“We’re proud to be part of The House of Coffee, a project that celebrates creativity and design in a city we deeply love. Working with Starbucks and Lucas Zanotto gave us the opportunity to reinterpret Poldo Dog Couture’s identity with a playful, contemporary touch, creating a piece that blends style, functionality, and our signature Made in Italy quality,” comments Riccardo Gardoni, Co-Founder of Poldo Dog Couture
“We are very pleased to be part of this project and to collaborate with Starbucks, a global icon that brings together culture and community. For K-Way, it is a natural expression of our identity, celebrating functionality, creativity, and an open dialogue with the city of Milan,” K-Way states.
In February, during Milan Women’s Fashion Week, Starbucks will introduce The Apron Project, a new chapter once again under Andelman’s artistic direction, centered around an exclusive apron customized by a range of Milan-based creative forces, including Vogue Italia Head of Editorial Content Francesca Ragazzi, Carolina Castiglioni, Founder and Creative Director of luxury label Plan C, fashion designer Sara Battaglia, as well as Galib Gassanoff, founder of fashion label Institution. The proceeds from the sales of the apron will benefit charities personally selected for their core values and principles by the talents involved in the project.
Throughout the duration of the initiative, the Starbucks Reserve Roastery will serve as the backdrop to a dedicated artistic direction featuring exclusive works by Lucas Zanotto, installed throughout the interior spaces of the venue. A selection of limited-edition merchandise featuring the artist’s illustrations will be available exclusively at the Milan Roastery, including a bag, game cards, pins, a notebook, stickers and a T-shirt.
To further animate the city and expand the cultural narrative, the project will include a six-week calendar of events and activations, beginning with an exclusive preview for press and key opinion leaders on January 15, followed by an opening event celebrating Milan’s creative energy, a cultural roundtable onFebruary 4 dedicated to the city’s rituals, and The Apron Projectevent during Milan Women’s Fashion Week.
